Ice cubing machine



Oct. 20, 1942. J, F, TURNER ETAL 2,299,261

ICE CUBING MACHINE Filed July I8, 195'? 6 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 20, 1942. 1 F, TURINER ETAL 2,299,261

ICE cUBING MACHINE Filed Jurly 8, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 20, 1942. J. F. TURNER ETAL v 2,299,261

ICE CUBING MACHINE Filed July 8, 193'? 6 Sheehs-Sheet 3 Oct. 2o, 1942. J F, TURNER ET AL 2,299,261

ICE CUBING MACHINE Filed July 8, y193'? 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct 20,1942. J. F. TURNER x-:rAL "2,299,261

ICE CUBING MACHINE Filed-July 8, 15137 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 A Oct. 20, 1942. 'y J. F. TURNER ETA; 2,299,261

' ICE CUBING MACHINE v Filed July 8, 195'? v e sheets-sheet 6 Patented Oct. 20, 1942 ICE. CUBING MACHINE James F. rIurner and Christian P. Breidenbaugh, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Flynn & Emrich Company, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application JulyS, 1937, Serial N0. 152,500

. ZlClaims.

The present application is in part a continuation of our co-pending application, Serial No. 85,136, filed June 13, 11936 The invention relates to a machine which is primarily adapted for producing ice cubes or other small flat-faced blocks adapted for the same purpose as the ice cubes which are made in domestic refrigerators, and while the size of the blocks is not the essential element, the tendency would be to make them of approximately the sizeV of the cubes produced in domestic refrigerators and to make them cubical.' By these machines, the small blocks of ice referred tov as cubes are produced by cutting relatively large cakes of ice, and while the lprimary object of the invention is the construction of an ice-cubing machine, the machine as a whole and various features thereof are adapted to cutting cubes or other flat blocks of other materials.

While the presentl machine embodies 4certain features of the previous application, it includes important novel features of invention not contained in the previous application above cited. The machine of the present application, in addition to other important advantages, is a relatively simple type of machine adapted for quick production on a more satisfactory commercial basis.

Both machines are provided with a reciprocating carriage which, in the preferred form shown in both applications, moves on a substantially upright path, the carriage in both instances being provided with a turn-table or rocking carrier for the ice cake or other material to be cut, which turn-table or rocking carrier is turned near each end of the stroke of the carriage, through an arc of 90 degrees, providing for the scoring of cubical blocks or for scoring at any other suitable angle by slight change if other shapes are to be cut. y v

The scoring is performed bya gang of scoring saws which project into the path of the cake intermediately of said path, and the severing of the cubes from the cake is performed by a cut-off saw at right angles to the scoring saws and in a plane parallel to the path ofthe cake at the.

saw substantially in lthe plane of the saw. This table is slotted or apertured to admit the narrow width of the cake, which is oblong inv its' transverse cross section. In the machine shown, the cut-oir is`accompl'ished on the up-stroke as the cake enters the slot in the cut-off saw table, and the cake, being turned at'the top of the stroke, is supported on the cut-off saw table, its length spanning the slot as it moves downwardly after cutting off and turning.

In combination with the cut-off saw table, the machine includes a scoring saw table which is spaced forwardly inthe direction of feed beyond the cut-01T saw tablebya distance equal to the thickness of the cubes and arranged in a Iparallel plane thereto. As 'the cake moves downwardly after turning at the upper end of the stroke and passes the lower edge of the cut-off saw table, it advances by a distance equal to the off-set of the tables and to the corresponding dimension referred to as the thickness of the cubes. This scoring table is to best advantage lso related to the scoring saws that' scoring takes place to a depth exactly equal to the advanceof the cake. The cake is thus scored parallel to its short dimension as it moves downwardly andZ being turnedat the Abottom of its stroke,'still in contact with the scoring s aw table, again moves upwardly and is scored at right angles to the first scoring. At this time the long dimension of the cake is disposed in the direction of the reciprocation and the cake moves upwardly into the slot in the cut-off saw table, the scored portion being, thus severed from the cake by the Vcutoff saw.

I'hese features are in both machines, but the machine of the present application is preferably arranged with the path of reciprocation inclined to the vertical' (shown asat 60) so that the feed of the caketransverse to the path of reciprocation may be accomplished by gravity, though other means may be provided. l

It is animportant feature of both machines that they rest directly on the floor and that the cake is admitted near the bottom ofthe stroke, so that very littlerlifting is necessary andthe objectionable pit, in which previous ice-cubing machines have been mounted in order'to provide an easy feed of the cake from* the floor to the machine, is eliminated. Likewise, the use of a platform for this purpose to which the cake must be hoisted, is avoided.

It is a further important feature of the present machine that when a new cake is to be presented to the hopper or turn-table, the carriage may modified and the hydraulic motor, which is the preferred power-operating device, has also, been modied to provide for this operation in the mostsatisfactory manner.

It is also an advantage that the improved machine is operated from a single source of power most conveniently in the form of an electric motor which operates both the scoring and cut-01T saws, turns the carrier or cage, and applies pressure to the hydraulic `)fluid which, inthe preferred form of the invention, is oil that is maintained in continuous circulation during the ope'ration of the machine.

It is also a feature of the improved machine that, while the motion may be instantaneously reversed at the top of the stroke, the action of gravity being relied upon to check the upward motionof the carriage and assist in reversing it without shock or undue increase of hydraulic pressure, this shock and increase of pressure are avoided. at the bottom of the stroke and the motion of the carriage is initially checked by moving the" control valve to la neutral position in which the weight of the carriage and its momentum are relied upon to transfer the hydraulic liquid from one side ofthe pistons tothe other, thus reducing the speed of the carriage, and immediately thereafter the valve is moved to the reversed position in which the fluid is vadmitted beneath the hydraulic pistons for the upward stroke.

Rocking of the carriage to receiving position at the bottom of the stroke, in the form shown is accomplished by curvature of the carriage guides, and for this purpose the carriage moves below the normal bottom of its stroke. When it is desired to move the carriage Iand rock it with the carrier to receiving position, a manual control of the hydraulic `system is operated as the carriage approaches the bottom of its normall stroke to connect the cylinders on both sides of the pistons so that the downward motion of the carriage at a relatively slow speed is continued, the fluid being transferred due to the weight of the carriage from the lower to the upper side of the pistons until the bottom of the rocking motion is reached and the carriage is in receiving position. When the feeding of the carriage has been accomplished at this low horizontal position of the carrier, the normal circulation is again restored and the carriage moves upwardly an-d resumes its normal working stroke. l

This motion mayl be accomplished by various mechanisms diiTering to a greater or less extent from the construction shown, the motion of the carriage and the provision for the admission of theV ice at or near the floor level being regarded as an important novel feature of the invention. This is likewise true of the various features and combinations of features herein described and claimed, the angle of feed, the angle of scoring and/or cutting, and the source of power, as well as other features, being subject to change to suit the conditions presented.

In :addition to the foregoing, the improved machine includes numerous features and details 'of novelty which will be brought out in the description of the machine in lconnection with the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated an ice-cubing machine embodying the features of the invention in the preferred form.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation taken from the left in Figure 1 and looking in the direction of arrows 2-2, the rear being the direction from which the blocks or cakes are loaded into the hopper.

Y Figure 3 is a front elevation looking at the machine from the discharge end.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 4-4 in Figure 2, showing the carriage in elevation near the top of its stroke and moving upwardly in the cut-olf operation.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5,-5 in Figure 1 on the same scale, looking downwardly at an incline; i. e., in the direction of the arrow 5-a and showing the carriage in plan.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detail view of the automatically operated hydraulic valve.

Figure 8 is a detail view of a lock for holding the carriage against displacement, -particularly during scoring, the position shown being at the beginning of the upward stroke.

Figure 9 shows the same at the beginning of the downward stroke.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, each of which refers to the same or similar parts in the different figures, the machine comprises two side frames I and 2 at the left and right sides of the machine, each of which side frames includes an upright 3 at the front of the machine and-parallel inclined ways 4 and 4' at the rear.

The carriage 5, as shown, is provided with follower rollers 6 and 'I at one side and 6 and l at the other side which run in the ways 4 and 4' and guide and support the carriage in its reciprocations. The carriage is operated by hydraulic or other fluid pressure cylinders 8 and 8 at the respective sides, which contain the usual hydraulic pistons P (Figure 1) which, in turn, are secured to piston rods I and Ill to the ends of which is secured a transverse bar I2 referred to as a crosshead, it being understood that other means not of the uid pressure type may be substituted for this reciprocating device. This crosshead I2 is shown in Figure 1 at the end of the down stroke and in broken lines at the top of its stroke. The crosshead I2 is connected to the carriage 5 by means of connectingrods I4 and I 4 (see Figure 2) which are pivotally connected to the carriage by wrist pins I5 and I5', which pins serve as the axles or shafts on which the upper follower rollers 6 and B of the carriage 5 rotate, the said wrist pins or axles being seated in the frame of the carriage 5. The connecting rods I4 and I4 are secured together by cross rods I4 to form a connecting vrod frame II; and in the upper part of the path of the crosshead I2 and said connecting rod frame, the connecting rods I4 and I4' and crosshead I2 pass through a slot I6 between the parallel cross bars Il and I1 which connect the said frame members at the top, the connecting rods I4 and I4 being, at the upper end of the stroke, guided and supported free of the stationary portions of the framefby the connecting rod guiding and supporting rollers I8 which are suitably mounted on brackets on said members I1 and I1.

l In the present instance, the carriage is mountedto reciprocate in a direction inclined to the vertical so that the hopper or cage is also inclined downwardly and forwardly in the direction of feed; i. e., to the right in Figure 1 at a complementary angle to provide for gravity feeding.; but it is obvious that the path of reciproca-` tion may be changed and a different type of feed employed without departure from the principles of the invention, some of which relate to other features of the machine which may be utilized without regard to the direction of reciprocation or the type of feed, and that.v the reciprocating device isvalso capable of wide variation. I-Iowever, the combinations of features shown and the manner of arranging and combining them as shown are of vimportance in their contributionA to a greatly7 improved result in the way of convenience, efficiency, and economy of operation.

The ice cage or hopper 20 which contains the ice cake or cakes, or blocks of other material to be cut, is mounted on the carriage by means of turntable 44 and operated thereon in a manner which bears a general resemblance. to the corresponding features ofy theI machine of the above-cited application, but including new features and details adapting it to the present improved machine, to -be further described. This hopper or cage, as shown, is preferably of elongated rectangular cross section and is shown open at its opposite ends at 22, 23 in directions at right angles to the plane of the ways 4 4'; i. e., it is open at the rear, which is treated as at the left in Figure 1, for the admission of the cake, and at the front, which is the right in Figure 1, for exposure of the cake to the saws for cutting. The axis of the carrier or hopper and the sides I9 and I9', 2I and 2|', are also disposed at right angles to the ways 4 and 4', the direction of feed of the cake being likewise at right angles to the plane of said ways; and with the frame inclined as shown in Figure l to give gravity feeding, which is 'preferred on account of the consequent simplicity, said axis and said sides I9, I9 and 2|, 2l' are inclined downwardly and forwardly; i. e., to the right in Figure 1, and the cake moves downwardly andforwardlyin the direction of said axis after each cut-off operation in returning to its initial cutting position, said sides acting as guiding and presenting means for presenting the material to the saws.

With the machine arranged to give an upright, or a substantially upright, path of reciprocation of the carriage as in the present illustration, the cakevis introduced near the bottom of the stroke. This provides for an easy loading of the ice without much lifting from the truck or oor; but to bring the hopper substantially to floor level and, further, to eliminate the elevation of the rear end 22 of the `carrier or cage, which is due to the incline, it is provided in the preferred form of the invention that the carriage may be moved below the bottom of its normal stroke to receive a new supply of ice, being at this time rocked to bring the hopper to horizontal position whereby the rear open end 22 of the hopper 20 is swung downwardly almost to thel floor 20' in Figure 1.

`vThe'ways 4 4', when thus arranged, may be inclined to the vertical at an angle of 30 degrees as shown or any suitable angle, said 30 degree angle.

portion being rectilinear and comprising the normal stroke of thecarriage.- For the purpose in hand, the ways 4-4' below the locus of the normal stroke are curved at `24- substantially about a center near the forward open end 23 of the carrier, the lower portion of the ways 4 and 4' below said curve being to best advantage substantially vertical as `at 25 in Figure `l.-

In order to positively control the lower limits of the normal stroke, a pivotally mounted stop 26 has been provided. When the carriage is to be moved down to loading position, this stop 26 is rocked out of the'way by hand or otherwise and ahy-pass valve 21 in the hydraulic system is opened to permit the carriage to move downwardly to loading position. The motion of the carriage and the hopper 2|] is controlled by the follower rollers 6 and 1 and 6' and 1 swinging about the curve 24 of the ways 4 and 4 from the inclined rectilinear portion 24' thereof to the vertical portion 25, thus moving the hopper downwardly to a position near the Afloor and swinging it to horizontal position withits axis parallel to the floor and the opening 22 near the floor. When the valve 21 is closed,vthe hydraulic system resumes its normal operation to be described and the carriage moves upwardly, the stop 429 being returned to normal operative position by means of a chain or flexible-connection 28 (Figure 2) which connects the swinging stop 26 to the carriage 5 and on the firstupward stroke swings the stop to the position shown in Figure 1. -In this position the stop limits the downward motion of the carriage to the normal rectilinear stroke so that it is not rockedv to receiving position except at the will of the operator by the operations described. It may be noted at this point that valve 21 controls a by-pass 21' whereby the hydraulic iluid is permitted to ilow from one side of the pistons in the cylinders 8-8' to the other side so that the carriage moves down slowly by gravity when the valve is opened.

In order that the machine may be -fully vunderstood, the fluid pressuresystem employed will be described. In the form of the invention shown, the carriage 5 is reciprocated by the action of hydraulic cylinders 8 and 8.'- These are connected at their upper ends to the casing 29 of the hydraulic valve not shown, and referred to for convenience as identical with said casing, by pipes 30, 3| (see Figures 1 and 2), the lower ends of these cylinders being connected to the same valve casing by pipes 33, 34. -The valve casing 29 is connected to the pressure side of the pump, which is enclosed in chamberr 55, by pipe 29', and the valve has a discharge connection 55' to said chamber outside said pump from which discharge the pump takes its supply.

VThe valve 29 is operated by a valve rod 35 which is shown in Figures 2 and 6 extending across the machine from the casing `29 to the valve lever 36 to which it is pivotally connected at 31.

The lever 36 is in turn pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine at 39, Figure 2.V

The carrier or hopper 20 carried by turntable 44 as'hereinafter described is turned oppositely with said table at each end of the stroke through an angle of degrees or other suitable As the carrier turns it engages and swings the lever 3, reversing the operation of the hydraulic cylinders to give the return stroke.

In the form of the invention shown, this is accomplished by a cam or dog 48 at the upper end of said lever 36 and one or more corresponding cams or dogs 42 and 43 at the lower end 'of said'lever. The hopper or cage 20 ismounted on turntable 44 which is inturn mounted Yon carriage 5. This turntable carries at its-periphery l two reversing cam rollers 45 and 46. The roller 45 at the top of the stroke on the swing of the turntable and near the end of its rotary motion engages the cam 40, moving the lever 36 to operate the valve 29 to reverse the stroke of crosshead l2 etc. and near the end of the down stroke on the opposite swing of the table 44, the same roller 45 engages the cam 43,-moving the valve 29 to a neutral position in which Athe linotion of the carriage is checked, the hydraulic fluid being transferred from one side to the other of the piston bythe momentum or the weight of the carriage; and, as the turntable 44 with the carrier 20 thereon continues to rotate and the carriage 5 slows down, the roller 46 engages the cam 42,'reversing the operation of the hydraulic device and the motion of the carriage., This is the position of the parts show in Figure 6.

In this way; i. e., by this mechanism, the

downward motion of the carriage is checked somewhat gradually without backing upA excess pressure and then reversed. This precaution is desirable, as the downward motion of Ythe carriage is assisted by gravity as well as by the momentum of the carriage and its load. Atthe top of the upper stroke where the motion of the carriage is resisted by gravity, this precaution being regarded as unnecessary, the hydraulic device and carriage are instantly reversed. ,'The tendency to build up hydraulic pressure at `the time of reversal and the consequent leakage, being negligible at the end of the up-stroke for the reason stated, isavoided at theend `of the down-stroke where it is a matter of importance by the gradual checking of the motionof the carriage which precedes reversal as just "'described.

The by-pass 2l controlled by valve 21V previously mentioned connects the two sides of the line; i. e., pipes 3l and 33, leading to the top and bottom ends respectively of cylinders 8 and 8. Th opening of the valve 21, as previously described, permits the carriage to move below the bottom of its normal stroke to the loading position, and has'an effect similar to that produced by placing the Vvalve 29 in neutral posi,- tion; i. e., the momentum or weight of the carriage transfers the liquid from one side' tothe other of the pistons, permitting the carriage to Y drift downwardly. p

During the lower portion of the normal stroke, the cake is supported at the forward open end 23 of the carrier orcase 20 by the scoring saw table 48 (see Figure 1) which, as shown, is curved downwardly at its lower end at 48'; end of the stroke after the cut-oir operation to be described, and throughoutl the turning at' this end of the stroke, the cake is supported at the forward end of the carriage by the cut-off saw table 49, which is off-set to the rear of the scoring saw table 48 by a distance equal to the height of the cubes; i. e., the thickness of the cut-01T portion; and it is also of interest as described in connection with the machine of the previous At the upper application that the cut-01T saw table 49, which .This provides for the admission of the cake tothe slot for the cut-off operation, the cut-off saw 5| being in the plane of, or slightly below 'and lforwardly of, the table 49, and for thesupport of the cake by the table 49 after the cut-olf operation and during and after turning, there beingjhowever, some degree of turningv 'before the cut-off is entirely completed. Y

Thus, after the cut-off operation, the cake being turned with its long dimension transverse to the feed, it spans the slot 50 resting on-table 49 at both sides of said slot. When the direction of reciprocation is reversed, the cake moves downwardly supported by the cut-oil' saw table 49 and as it passes the lower end of table 49 the cake advances by the normal feed, which in this instance is due to gravity, from the plane of the cut-ofi:` saw table 49 to the plane of the scoring saw table 43, progressing downwardly into cutting relation with the scoring saws 52 and beyond the same to the point of reversal at the bottom of the stroke, being Vii'rst scored in the direction of its short transverse dimension 50 as it moves downwardly, turned at the bottom of the stroke,

vand scored in the direction of its long transverse dimension 5 I as it moves upwardly; after which, as previously described, it continues to lmove upwardly, the scored portion being severed near the upper end of the stroke by the cut-0E saw 5l. This cycle of operations is repeated with interlvals for loading so long as the machine is in operation. At the time of cutting oif, the cake still rests on scoring saw table 48.

The machine as shown is driven for all purposes and as to all its various mechanisms from a single source of power preferably in the form of an electric motor 53 (see particularly Figure 1). Mounted on the shaft of thismotor 53 is a Vscoring saw shaft 58 is provided with a drum 59 vsecured thereto, which is driven by belts 60 from the drum 54, all said drums and pulleys being suitablyl grooved to carry the type `of belt, shown. ,The drum 59 is elongated and also carries the belts 6I which drive the cut-off saw 5I, being passed about a drum 62 on the shaft of the saw 5|. These belts 6I are-v also passed over suitable direction-changing or guide pulleys 63 and 64 best shown in Figure 3.

The manner of leading the Vhydraulic uid to the cylinders 84-8 from the pump by way of the `valve 29 has been described, also the driving of the pump from motor 53. The drive also includes the operation of friction driving rollers 65 and,65 located at the upper end of the machine and adapted to turn the carrier and ,turn table, in this instance through an angle of degreesat the upper end of the stroke, and corresponding friction rollers 66 and 66 at the lower end of the machine, and adapted to perform a similar operation turning the table in the opposite, directionV at the lower end of the normal stroke. In the formof the machine shown, the shaft 6l carrying the toothed pinion 68 is driven by means of suitable gearing connected to the pump, which is preferably of the rotary type.

This gearing may consist of a helical gear |68 secured to shaft 56 and driving a helical pinion |69 on the shaft 61. The pinion 68 drives a toothed gear 69 which meshes therewith and which is in turn secured to a shaft which extends upwardly to the rear transversely to the path of reciprocation and oppositely in the direction of the feed. This shaft is provided with bevel gears 1| and 12 secured to said shaft. This shaft 10 also carries the driving friction rollers 66 and 66' at the lower end of the machine at the rear and front respectively, being at the right in Figure 2. The bevel gears 1| and '|2 mesh with similar gears 13 and 14, which gears are mounted respectively on shafts 'l5 and 16 which extend upwardly parallel to the direction of reciprocation of the carriage 5, being supported at their upper ends in suitable bearings in brackets TI and 18 secured to the frame. These brackets also carry the transverse shafts 'I9 and '|9' on which the driving friction rollers 65 and 65' respectively are mounted. Shafts 19 and 19' are spaced apart at their adjacent ends to pass the crosshead 2. These shafts 19 and 19' have secured thereto bevel gears 89 and 8| which mesh with gears 82 and 83 secured to the shafts I5 and 16 whereby the shafts '|9 and 19 carrying the rollers 65 and 65' are driven and the driving friction rollers 65 and 65 are driven at equal speeds and in the same direction. It will also be apparent from the connections described that the friction rollers 66 and 66' at the opposite end of the traverse of the carriage are driven at similar speeds and in a direction opposite to the rotation of the rollers 65 and 65'. In the form shown, the rollers 65 and 65' rotate counterclockwise as seen in Figure 2, and the rollers 66 and 55' rotate clockwise as seen in the same gure. covered by rollers 65 and 66.

The carriage 5 and the turntable 44, and the cage or hopper 28, are somewhat similar in principle to the machine of the previous application. The portion of the carriage 5 which merely reciprocates in the direction of the stroke and carries the turntable but does not turn therewith at the ends of the stroke, includes a top plate 82 which is shown in plan in Figure 5 and in elevation in Figure 6. This plate 82, as shown, is in the form of a cross having depending flanges at the sides at 83 and 83" to which are secured the side plates 84 and 84 which, as seen in side elevation in Figure 1, are of trapezoidal outline with the short dimension located upwardly in the direction of reciprocation and transverse thereto. These side plates are connected together at the bottom by cross bars 85 and 85' shown in the form of angle irons.

The carriage frame as thus constructed, or in any suitable form (see Figure 6) carries bearing rollers 86 and 86' at the top, the roller 86 being at the rear and 86' at the front, both rollers being carried by a shaft 81 which is suitably mounted in upwardly turned ears 88 at the front and rear ends of the cross-shaped top plate 82 (see Figures 5 and 6). The carriage 5 is also provided at the f ront and rear bottom corners with two pairs of bearing rollers 89-89 and 98-99 (see Figures l, 5, and 6), one roller at each said corner. Rollers 86, 89, and 96 rotate in one plane and rollers 86', 89', and 99 rotate in another plane, both planes being parallel to the path of normal reciprocation. The shafts for these rollers, 89, 89' and 96, 90 are mounted in tubes Sla, and 9|b` which are secured/at their ends to the ends of the angles or cross bars 85 In this figure, the rollers 65' and 66 are and extending from front to rear along each bottom corner of the carriage 5. The bearing rollers 86, 89, and 99 engage a grooved bearing ring 9| structure 44 at the rear and the bearing rollers 86', 89', and 99' engage a similar ring 9|', integral with the turntable 44, at the front end of the turntable, the planes of said rings 9| and 9i' being parallel to the path of normal reciprocation. The rollers 86, 86', 89, 89', 90, 90' support the turntable on the carriage and provide for its rotation thereon for the purpose of turning the hopper and cake.

The ice hopper or carrier 20 is secured in and to the turntable bearing rings 9| and 9|' in any suitable manner, as by means of angle brackets 93 at the top rear on each side (see Figure 5) and 94 at the top front on each side, 95 at the bottom rear on each side and 96 at the bottom front on each side, the brackets being bolted in place on the rings 9| and 9|' and slotted at 9'! to provide for adjustment of the hopper or carrier 29 for the purpose of equalizing the cuts with the spacing of the scoring saws so as to produce as few undersized cubes at the sides of the cake as the dimensions of the cake will permit. The rings are provided with inwardly extending ears or plates 98 to receive and support the brackets 98 and 94, etc.

In order to provide for the turning of the turntable 44 and the carrier or hopper 29 thereon at the respective ends of the stroke, the turntable 44 has secured thereto arcuate friction members or tracks 99' at the front and 99 at the rear. These are closely similar in function to the corresponding friction members of the machine of the copending application, the important distinction being that they are made fiat; i. e., they have their friction surfaces parallel to the axis of the turntable to permit the carriage with the turntable and hopper to swing to horizontal position for the loading operation aspreviously outlined. These tracks are formed on circular arcs about the axis of the turntable and their plane of rotation is parallel to the path of reciprocation.

Each of the arcuate tracks or bands 99 and 99 is composed of two friction paths which, as shown, are in the same cylindrical surface and parallel, but these latter are off-set in the direction of their lengths at the ends to provide a differently located arc of engagement of said paths by the rollers at the top and bottom, whereby the driving friction rollers 65 and 65', 65 and 56', are permitted to rotate free of engagement with these tracks 99 and 99' during the slight dwell at the ends of the stroke after rotation of the carriage is completed, which prevents burning of the rollers and loss of power by friction after the rotation of the turntable is completed. This is of particular importance when the carriage is stopped by action of valve 2'! without removing stop 26, as for inspection. While this construction is capable of change and variation, the arrangement shown is found most satisfactory for the purposes stated. The track 99' is shown in detail in Figure 4, the track 99 being similar (see Figure 5).

The driving friction roller 66' at the lower end 0f the machine in Figure 1-the operation of roller 66 being similar in connection with track 99-engages the forward or right-hand path |69 (Figure 4) of the track 99', which path, as shown, is provided at its lower end in Figure 4 with an anti-friction roller |0| which is engaged by the friction driving roller 66' at the end of the which is integral with the turntable swing of the turntable which takes place at the bottom of the stroke, the friction path I having passed from contact with roller 66. This leaves the carriage and the parts thereof free to swing downwardly to the horizontal position of the hopper or carrier 20 when moved to loading position below the end of the normal stroke at the will of the operator as previously described.

As will'be noted, the end of the friction path |02, which is engaged by the driving friction roller 65 at the top position of the carriage to rotate the turntable to position in which the long transverse dimension 5| of the cake is at right angles to the path of reciprocation, extends downwardly inA Figure 4 at |03 beyond the end of the path |00 and the roller |0|, whereby the paths are oiset in the direction of their length. The offset provides for the initial engagement of the roller 65 with the path |02 of the track 99 at the top of the stroke and for the release or disengagement of the friction driving roller 66' at the bottom of the stroke after rotation of the turntable and lprior to the upward motion of the carriage. The opposite end of the track 99 and both ends of the tra-ck 99 are similarly arranged, the operation being similar, except that there are 'only two of the rollers ISI and these are at the ends of the paths engaged by rollers 66 and 66' when turning is completed at the bottom of the normal path of reciprocation.

The turntable, particularly the hopper or carrier 20, is positioned after each swing by stops |04 and |05 (see Figure 6) which are supported on the frame of the carriage and adjustably mounted, as by means of screws |04 and |05. The stop |04 engages the outside of wall I9 of the hopper 20 and positions the same with the long dimension 5|' of the cross section of said hopper parallel to the direction of reciprocation, the short dimension being at right angles thereto; and the stop |05 positions the carrier or hopper 20 with the long dimension 5l at right anglesto the direction of reciprocation.

In order to prevent displacement of the carrier or hopper during cutting, the machine, as shown, is further provided with a locking plate |01 shown in detail in Figures 8 and 9 in its cooperative relation to and with the hopper. This plate is ypivotally mounted on the carriage 5 at |09 and provided with follower means I|0 whereby it engages a cam track I on the frame of the machine at the side.

Figures 5 and 6 show an angle iron H3 which extends across the turntable at the side of the hopper and parallel to the side |9; i. e., from the rear to the front in the direction in which the ice cake is fed through the hopper toward the saws which is also parallel to the axis of the turntable. This angle iron ||3 is engaged by the locking surface |08 of the plate |01 to hold the hopper in ycontact with the stop |04 on the up-stroke when the long dimension 5| of the cross section of the cake and the hopper is parallel to the direction of reciprocation; and, the turntable and hopper being turned at the top of the stroke, the locking surface I|2 engages the long side Y|9 of the hopper near the corner of the hopper on rthe down stroke to hold the hopper in Contact with the stop |05 (see Figure 6), with the long dimension 5|' transverse to the direction of reciprocation.

It will be noted that the cam track is curved at the ends v| and I" for convenient engagement with the follower surface H0 of the locking plate |01 as it enters contact therewith,

and that the track ||I extends through an area corresponding to the portion of the path of the carriage between the extreme ends of the normal stroke. The turntable and hopper are thus free to turn at the ends of the stroke and are locked against turning throughout the area in which the ice cake may be engaged by the scoring saws 52 and while it is entering slot 50 in the table 49.

The object in both locking positions is to prevent rocking of the hopper and turntable during reciprocation and particularly while the scoring saws are passing through the cake, thus eliminating any tendency to deflect thel saws and injure them or to score at varying angles. The

locking device on the up-strok'e also causes the cake to register accurately with and enter the slot 50 in the cut-off saw table 49.

While the operation of the machine has Vbeen disclosed in connection with the description of the Various mechanisms, it may be desirable to consider this operation as a whole.

The initial step in the operation of the machine in the preferred form as shown-the motor 53 having been placed in circuitis to lmove the carriage to loading position by rocking the hopper to bring its feeding axis to horizontal position whereby the mouth of the hopper 22 (see Figure 5) is lowered and the hopper is moved downwardly to 'a position closely adjacent the oor so that but slight lifting of the ice cake is necessary toload it into the hopper. If the ice is carried on a low hand truck, it may be passed horizontally directly into the hopper.

For this purpose; the stop. 26, which would otherwise arrest the motion of the carriage at the end of the normal downward stroke, is swung downwardly andrrearwardly; i. e., to the left in Figure 1 out of the path of the carriage, and the valve lever 21 is moved to open the by-pass so that the two ends of the hydraulic cylinders 8 and 8 are connected together and the weight of thercarriage serves to transfer the liquid from the lower to the upper sides of the pistons.

As the carriage drifts downwardly, the follower rollers 6-6, 1-1 move along the tracks 4 and 4', passing around the curve 24 from the inclined portion of these tracks to the vertical portion thereof at 25,(see Figure 1), whereby the carriage and the turntable and the hopper or carrier 20 are rocked to a position in which the long fore and aft dimension of the hopper, parallel to the axis of the turntable and parallel to the direction in which the ice is fed to the saws and transverse to the direction of reciprocation, is horizontal. The carriage then drifts on downwardly to a positionin which the friction bearing rollers 89, 89 and 99, 90 are substantially in contact with the floor, the bottom wall of the hopper being not only horizontal but located immediately adjacent the floor, these parts being indicated in this position in dotted lines in Figure 1. It will be understood that in the arrangement shown, which is subject to var-V iation, the carriage 5, after turning to the horizontal position ofv the hopper, moves downwardly a considerable distance to its bottom position. The angle of the carriage in loading position is also subject to variation.

The hopper having been loaded, and the cake or cakes advanced therein into contact with the end of the scoring saw table at 48', the valve 21 is closed and the'` carriage moves upwardly byvirtue of the ,operation of the hydraulic cylinders to its normal path of reciprocation. At this time, the long dimension 5| of the cross section of the hopper is disposed in the direction of reciprocation. As the rollers 6-6, 1-1 pass the curve 24 of the tracks 4 4', the carriage assumes its normal alinement with the axis of the hopper and turntable, at right angles to the direction of normal reciprocation, which is represented by the portion of the tracks 4 4 above the curve 24 and shown as at an langle of 30 degrees with the vertical; the axis of the carriage, the length of the hopper, and thedirection of 'feed being correspondingly inclined to the horizontal downwardly and to the right in Figure 1, which has been referred to as forwardly because it represents the direction of feed of the cake to the saws after each cut-off operation. t

The stop 26, being connected by chain 28 to the carriage, is drawn upwardly and thrown forwardly to its normal stable position as illus# trated in Figure l, and the normal operation of the machine is thus initiated, and normal reciprocation continued. The next operation is the locking of the turntable by contact of the follower surface I l of the locking plate |01 with the track whereby the side I9' of the hopper 20 is held in contact with the stop |04 (Figure 6) so that the cake cannot change its alinement with the scoring saws 52. As the carriage moves upwardly, the cake is scored in the direction of its long transverse dimension It then enters the slot 50 of the cut-off saw table 49, with which slot the stop |04 and the lock |01 hold it in alinement, the cake being in contact with the cut-olf saw table 48.

As the cake, also referred to herein as a body of solid material, advances, having been thus scored, a portion corresponding in thickness to the off-set of the plane of the cut-off saw 5| from the table 48 and substantially to the offset of the tables, is cut by saw 50 from the front end of the cake.

When the cut is completed, or substantially completed, the turntable iis unlocked or released, the friction driving rollers 65 and 65 engage the-friction tracks 99 and 99', or the corresponding paths thereon indicated at |02 in instance; i. e., in the preferred form of machine shown, the feed is by gravity, the ways 4 4 being inclined for this purpose, which gives va corresponding incline to the turntable axis and direction of feed and provides for the gravity feed.'

The off-set mentioned is substantially equal to the height or thickness of the slice cut by the cut-off saw, and hence of the cubes cut, and represents the distance between the parallel planes of tables 49 and 48, the latter being forward in the direction of feed.

The turntable and hopper having been again locked by the action of the plate |01 and cam track this time in the manner illustrated in Figure 9, the cake moves into contact with the scoring saws 52 vand is scored in a direction at right angles to the long dimension 5| of the cross section of the cake and hopper.

As the carriage approaches the bottom. of its stroke, the turntable is unlocked and the tracks 99-'-99 are engaged by the friction drive rollers 66 and 66' and the turntable 44 4and the hopper 20 are rotated counter-clockwise as seen in Fig. 2 to the position illustrated in Figure 2; i. e., with the long dimension 5| of the cross section of thefhopper again parallel to the direction of reciprocation. At the end of the down stroke, theY roller 45 carried by the turntable engages the cam 43 on the lever 36, moving the valve in the casing 29 to neutral position in which the two ends of the hydraulic cylinders 8 and 8 (see Figure 2) are connected together, so that the motion of the carriage is checked and it moves downwardly due to its weight, transferring the liquid from the bottom end of said cylinders to the top.

When the rotation of the turntable and the hopper is substantially completed, the parts being the cylinders are connected to pressure and the Figure 4, and the carriage begins to rotate, moving the long dimension 5| of the cross section of the hopper and cake or body of material from the position shown in Figure 6, in which it is parallel to the direction of reciprocation, to the position indicated in dotted lines in the same figure, in which it is at right angles to the direction of reciprocaton.

'I'he turntable Iand hopper in this instance and inthe particular construction shown are rotated in a clockwise direction Vas seen in Fig. 2. Near the end of the arc of rotation, which is 90 degrees in this instance, the roller 45 engages the cam or dog 40 on the lever 36 (see Figures 2 and 6) moving said lever 36 and operating the valve 29 to which said lever is connected by the valve rod 35, reversing the operation of thehydraulic cylinders. The turntable and hopper have been thus rotated to a position in which the long dimension 5I of the cross section of the hopper and the ice cake are transverse to the direction of reciprocation, so that the cake spansv the slot in the cut-off saw table 49. The cake, on reversal of the carriage motion, moves downwardly past the lower end of the cutsection of the cake and hopper.

off sawtable 49,'passing the off-set'491 (Figure 6)' i upper ends are discharging through the valve 29 into the low pressure side of the chamber 55, whereby the carriage moves upwardly to complete the cycle of operations. The carriage is again locked by the operation of the plate |01 and the cam track The cake then moves upwardly past the scoring saws whereby it is scored in the direction of the long dimension 5| of the cross Then, moving up further on its traverse, the scored portion is severed by the action of the cut-off saw 5| (see Figure 4), the ice cubes |25 cut from the cake |26 being ldelivered to the chute |21 whereby they are discharged from the machine. The cycle of operations described is repeated so long as the machine is in operation.

As already pointed out, when the ice in the hopper is sufficiently exhausted, the carriage and hopper may be moved downwardly to loading position as previously described by opening valve 21 and removing stop 26 when a new cake is inserted. The carriage is then returned to its normal reciprocation by closing the valve 21, the stop 26 being automatically returned to operative position so that the operation is immediately resumed and is substantially continuous, the cakes being fed consecutively and all cut into uniform cubes.

It is of interest that at the end of each rotation oroscillationofthe'carriage the rollers 65-55, 66-66 move on out of contact with the friction tracks 99-99 so that there is no friction afterV the turn is completed; and the rollers lill shown at the end of the friction path IDU in Figure 4 are particularly helpful in preventing friction after the rotation is completed during the dwell or when the carriage is stopped at the bottom of its stroke by opening valve 21. It is also of advantage in permitting free swinging of the carriage, the turntable, and the hopper from the inclined position which they take during normal reciprocation, as represented by the upper portion of the ways 4 and 4 in Figure l, to the horizontal position which the hopper and other parts take when the follower rollers 6 6', 1 1' pass the curve 24 of said ways in moving downwardly to loading position. Y

The neutral position of the valve in the chamber 29, which is provided for by the presence of the cam 43 engaged by the roller 45 as the carriage approaches the bottom of the stroke, is of particular advantage on the down stroke in that, by permitting the fluid to be more or less freely passed from the bottom to the top ends of the cylinders, the motion of the carriage is gradually checked Without creating excess pressure in the cylinders with consequent tendency to leakage which would result from an instant reversal of the hydraulic motor in opposition to the moment and weight of the carriage as it moves downwardly.

The reciprocating carriage and hopper, moving on an inclined path providing a gravity feed transversely of said path with automatic turning of the hopper at each end of said path, the cut-off and scoring saws being intermediate of said path and having their respective tables parallel to the path of reciprocation and olf-set by the thickness of the cut-off, providing a simple, completely automatic machine, are regarded as an important` novel combination contributing to a new result in the way of a more simple and efficient machinev for this purpose than any previously produced.

path is not essential to the utility of certain features of the machine which may be applied toV a machine having a different arrangement; and

. clined path'providing' for the gravity feed and the vertical path, the device for moving the carriage below or beyond the end of the normal path of recprocation to and nearthe oor level for convenience in loading being applicable in its broad conception to the vertical and even to other types of machine.

We have thus ldescribed specifically and in detail an ice cubing machine embodying .the features of our invention in order that the manner of constructing, applying, operating, and using the invention may be fully understood; however, the specific terms herein are used in a descriptive rather than in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Y l Letters Patent is:

\ direction of feed, automatic means for turning the hopper about an axis parallel to the direction of feed to provide for scoring on intersecting lines, means for regulating the feeding of the `body to score and cut a pre-determined thick- In connection with the upright path of reciprocation, the provision for moving the carriage v the hopper and moved downwardly to the oor7' for loading, is worthy of particular emphasis.'v The term inclined path is not critical, the rockv ing feature being applicable to machines having the path at various angles.

'Ihe machine also contains various other features and combinations of parts which are novel in their association and arrangement and contribute to the practical result obtained. Among others, an important contribution to the economyv of production is the arrangement for drivingvthe l and cut a pre-determined thickness.

various mechanisms from a single source of power.

ness, said machine being adapted to be supported substantially on the floor, and having means at one end of said path and under the control of the operator for moving the carriage v and hopper beyond the end of said normal path to a loading position closely adjacent the floor with the path of feed through the carriage substantially horizontal.

2. In a machine for cutting a body of material into relatively small blocks, a carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage on a pre-determined path, a hopper on said carriage adapted to the feeding of said body transversely to the path of reciprocation, scoring saws and a cut-off saw intermediate of said path, projecting into the path of the body at the forward end of said hopper in the direction of feed, automatic means for turning the hopper at each end of the stroke about an axis parallel to the direction of feed to determine the angle of scoring, a locking device for locking Vthe hopper after certain of said While the machine is particularly adapted to cutting ice cubes and is being produced on a com mercial basis for this purpose, it is also adapted to cutting blocks of other materials for other purposes. However, in the interest of brevity the terms ice and cubes have been vused thro-ugh- ,i

out the specification and will be used in the claims.

as including any substantially rigid materialY which may be out into `small blocks and any turning motions and for maintaining it in locked position for the scoring operation, and means for regulating the feeding of the body to score 3. In a machine for cutting a body of material into relatively small blocks, a carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage on a pre-determined, substantially upright path, a hopper on the carriage adapted to the feeding of said body transversely of said path, scoring saws and a cut-off saw projecting into the path of the body in said hopper at the forward end of the hopper in the direction of feed and intermediate of said path,

automatic means for turning the hopper to provide for cutting intersecting scores prior to cutting oif the scored material and means for determining the rate of feed and the thickness of the cut-off, the machine being adapted to stand substantially on the fioor, said normal path of reciprocation terminating above the floor and the machine comprising means under control of the operator for moving the carriage downwardly below the lower end of the normal path of reciprocation substantially to the level of the floor.

4. In a machine for cutting a body of material into relatively small blocks, a carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage on a pre-determined normal path inclined to the vertical, a hopper on the carriage adapted to the feeding of said body transversely of said path, and in a downwardly-inclined direction, scoring saws and a cut-off saw projecting into the path of the body in said hopper at the forward end of the hopper in the direction of feed and intermediate of said path, means for turning the hopper between scoring operations to provide for cutting intersecting scores prior to cutting off the scored material, the machine being adapted to stand on the floor, said normal path of reciprocation terminating above the floor and the machine comprising means under control of the operator for moving the carriage downwardly to a loading position below the lower end of the normal path of reciprocation substantially adjacent the level of the floor with the hopper in sub-stantial parallelism with the iioor to facilitate loading.

5. In a machine for cutting a body of material into relatively small blocks, a carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage on a pre-determined substantially upright path, scoring saws and a cut-off saw intermediate of said path, a hopper on the carriage for holding said body and presenting it to the said saws, means for turning the hopper to provide intersecting scores, said reciprocating means comprising a fluid pressure motor of the double action reciprocating type and connections from the motor to the carriage whereby the carriage reciprocates in direct correspondence with the reciprocations of the motor, valve means controlling said motor, means for operating said valve means, reversing the motor at each end of the stroke, and means operative near the end of the down stroke for relieving the pressure within the fluid pressure motor prior to reversal.

6. In a machine for cutting a body of material into relatively small blocks, a carriage, means for reciprocating the same providing a forward and return stroke on a single predetermined inclined path, a hopper on said carriage adapted to the automatic feeding of the said body downwardly substantially at right angles to said path, scoring saws and a cut-01T saw arranged intermediately of said path in cutting relation to the path at the forward end of the hopper, and means for turning the hopper adjacent each end of said path to provideV intersecting scores.

7. In a machine for cutting a body of material into relatively small blocks, a carriage, means for reciprocating the same on a pre-determined inclined path, a hopper on said carriage adapted to feed the said body by gravity substantially at right angles to said path, scoring saws and a cutoff saw arranged intermediately of said path transverse to each other and parallel to said path at the forward end of the hopper, means `for turning the hopper at each end of said path to provide intersecting scores, a plurality of guiding means for said body forwardly of the hopper and corresponding to the scoring and cut-01T saws respectively, said guiding means beingl parallel to said path and to said cut-01T saw and said guiding means being offset one from the other in the direction of feed by a distance determining the thickness of the cut-off, one said guide being adapted to support said body during scoring and cutting off and the other said guide, which is rearmost as to the direction of feed and substantially in the plane of the cut-01T saw, being adapted to support the cake at the upper end of the stroke, after cutting off and prior to the next scoring operation.

8. In a machine for cutting a body of material into relatively small blocks, a carriage, means for reciprocating the same on a pre-determined path of normal reciprocation which is' inclined to the vertical, a hopper on said carriageV adapted to the feeding of said body by gravity forwardly and downwardly substantially'at right angles to said path, scoring saws an a cut-off saw arranged in cutting relation to the path at the forward end of the hopper, means for turning the hopper to provide intersecting scores, a guide, follower means on the carriage engaging said guide, said guide extending below the path of normal reciprocation of said follower means and being deflected forwardly from alinement with said path of normal reciprocation and' means within the control of the operator for moving the carriage from its path of normal reciprocation downwardly along said guide to a pre-determined loading position, the position of the carriage and hopper being controlled by said guide and said follower means.

9. In a machine for cutting a body of material into relatively small blocks, a carriage, means for reciprocating the same on a pre-determined path of normal reciprocation inclined to the vertical, a hopper" on said carriage adapted to the `feeding of said body by gravity, forwardly and downwardly transversely to said path, scoring saws and a cut-off saw arranged in cutting relation to the path at the forward end of the hopper, means for turning the hopper to provide intersecting scores, a guide, follower means on the carriage engaging said guide, said guide extending below the path of said follower means in normal reciprocation and being deflected below said path forwardly from alinement with said path 0f normal reciprocation, and means controlled by the operator for moving said carriage downwardly along said guides to a pre-determined loading position, the position of the carriage and hopper being controlled by said guide and said follower means whereby the hopper is moved substantially to horizontal position for loading.

10. In a machine for cutting a body of material into relatively small blocks, a carriage, means for reciprocating the same on a pre-determined normal inclined path, `a hopper on said carriage adapted to feed said body by gravity transversely of said path downwardly and forwardly, scoring saws and a cut-off saw arranged intermediately of said path transverse to each other and substantially parallel to said path, means for turning the carriage near each end of said path providing for the cutting of intersecting scores, said reciprocating means comprising a fluid pressure cylinder having a member reciprocated thereby connected to said carriage whereby the reciprocations of the carriage correspond directly to the reciprocations of said member, means for reversing the operation of said reciprocated member near each end of the normal path of the carriage, means for rocking the carriage operative below said normal path, means actuated at the will of the operatorfor controlling the operation of said iluid pressure cylinder-'and reciprocated member to provide for the movement f of the carriage downwardly below its normal pathl in cooperation with said rocking means to a pre-determined loading position of said hopper.V

11. A machine as perv claim L10 which Aisadapted to stand on the floor, said rocking means for the carriage being in the form of a guide-and follower means on the carriage engaging said guide, said guide extending below the normal Vpath of said follower means and divergingfrom said latter normal path to swing the hopper to horizontal position as itf moves downwardly `below the normal` stroke.

12..A machine as per claim 10, the controlling means comprising a removable stop for the carriage to determine thelbottom end of the normal stroke and a'by-pass valve .with suitable connections for-'connecting the two-endsof the cylinderV .determined`path, comprisinga pair of cylinders and pistons therein,a piston rod operated by each,

said cylinder,Y a crossheadf-secured .to both said piston rods, a guide for said crosshead,a-con nectingl rod connecting the crosshead to the carriage, the -cylindersbeingj parallel andv spaced 'apartand .the carriage vhaving vits pathrsubstantially'between thecylinders, means for supplying iiuid under pressure, connections for leading said fluid vunder pressure-to the; cylinder, a` hopper rotatablyimounted on saidcarriage on an axis rtransverse to the path of reciprocation,? the-hopper being adapted to the `feedingl of said body' in the directionI ofsaid axis, scoring saws and a cut-olf ysaw vinllthe path of reciprocation, and

means for.' turning the hopper to form two sets of v intersecting. scores.

' 14. Ina machine' for cutting bodies of material .into relatively-small blocks,a, carriage for'said body, afluid pressure cylinder for-reciprocating the same on a normal,- substantially `upright prel determined' path, scoringsaws4 and cut-off saws `in said Ipaths, -means for turning thecarriage to provide two sets of intersecting scores, the' carriage being adaptedL to thev feeding of the' body aftereach cut-01T, the said machine having means adapted for control `by the operator for controllingthe supply of. fluid to said-fluid. pressure cylinder, providing for the downward motion of said carriage to a loading. positionbelow said normal path of reciprocation- 15. In a machine for cutting bodies of material `into relatively smallblocks, a carriage for said body, a iluid pressure cylinder for reciprocating the same on a normal, substantially upright predetermined path, scoring sawsand cut-oifsaws in saidpaths, -meansl for turning .the-carriage to provide' two-setsv of intersecting scores, the carriagebeing adaptedY tothe feeding ofthe body after each cut-off, the said Y machine having means'v for controllingthe fluid pressure cylinder to provide'for the Amotion of Ythe carriage -below the normal pathof reciprocation, said path. being atan angle to theverticaLand means for defiectingsaid carriage as 'it moves below the path of reciprocation to bring the hopper to a loading position with said axis which represents theline of feed substantially horizontal.

16. In a machine for cutting a, bodyof material into relatively small blocks, a carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage providing a forward and return stroke on the same substantially upright normal path, a hopper on said carriage adapted vto the automatic feeding of the. said body forwardly substantially at. right angles to said path, scoring saws and a cut-off saw arranged in cutting relation to said path at the forward end of said hopper, means for turning the hopper to provide for scoring onv intersecting lines, means controllable by the operator-providing for the movement of said carriage below the lower end of said normal path to loading position.

17 In a machine as per claim 16, having a stop for the carriage at the lower end of the normal path, the same being movably mounted to be v displaced by the operator when the carriage is to be moved to loading position and a connection from said stop to the carriagewhereby the stop is returned to operative position when the vcarriage moves upwardly after loading.

18. In a machine for cutting a body of solid Ymaterial into relativelysmall blocks, a, carriage,

riage whereby the carriagereciprocates in direct correspondence with the *reciprocations yo'f the motor, valve means controlling said-motor, means controlled by the turning of the hopper for operating said `valve means, reversing the motor at each end of the stroke, and means operative near the end of the down-stroke for relieving the pressure within the fluid pressure motoriprior to reversal.

19. In a machine for cutting blocks from Va body of solid material, a carriage, means yfor reciprocating the carriage on a single predetermined path, comprising a' fluid pressure cylinder and a piston therein, scoring saws. and'a cut-off saw intermediate of said patha hopper on the carriage for holding the materialand presenting it to the saws, the hopper and carriage being 'adapted to the feeding of the material .to the saws and means for determining the rate. of feed, means for turning the hoppery at each end of said path to provide intersecting scores, a pump for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder, a single source of power for said machine in the formofa motor, driving connections from said motor to the pump and connections from the said motor to the scoring saws, cut-01T saw,.and turning means whereby the carriage is reciprocated and turned and the` scoring 'and' cut-01T saws are operated from said motor.

20. In a machine for cutting blocks from a body of lsolid material, .a carriage, means for guiding the carriage on a predetermined path, a :fluid pressure reciprocating motor and means connecting the carriage to the motor to reciprocate in direct correspondence therewith, scoring vsaws and a vcut-off saw intermediately of saidv path in operative relationto said path, a .hopper on the carriage for holding the material and presenting it to said saws, means'for `turning the hopper at each end of said path to provide Yintersecting scores, valve means controlling the reciprocations of the motor, means flor operating said valve means and means on the carriage, timed by said turning means, for actuating said valve operating means, to move the Valve means, substantially at the ends of said strokes, controlling the reciprccations of the motor and carriage, and means for determining the rate of feed of the material to determine the thickness of the blocks.

21. In a machine for cutting blocks from a body of material, a carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage on a pre-determined path, a hopper on said carriage adapted to the feeding of the material transversely to the path of reciprocation, scoring saws and a cut-off saw intermediate of said path projecting into the path of the cake at the forward end of said hopper in the direction of feed, automatic means for turning the hopper at each end of the stroke about an axis parallel to the direction of feed to determine the angle of scoring, a locking device for locking the hopper after said turning motions and for maintaining it in locked position for the scoring operation, and means for regulating the feeding of the cake to score and cut a, predetermined thickness, said locking means comprising positioning means on the carriage for positioning the hopper after each turning motion and a follower-controlled member on the carriage engaging the hopper oppositely to said positioning means, a follower also on the carriage and operatively connected to said member and a track extending along the path of the carriage engaging and controlling the motion of said follower and said member to lock the hopper against said positioning means and hold it locked during the respective strokes of the carriage.

JAMES F. TURNER. CHRISTIAN P. BREIDENBAUGH. 

